Shocking Mountain Moon

Chapter 85 A blessing in disguise
Qiu Heng's visit to the palace this time not only brought changes to Concubine Qiu, but also caused a sensation in the entire Bo Mansion.

The first person who couldn't wait to ask Qiu Heng was Yongqing Bo.

"How does the Imperial Concubine treat you? How will His Majesty react when he hears that you are good at making incense..."

After asking a series of questions, there was not a single mention of Miss Qiu.

Qiu Heng stopped Yongqing Bo's excitement with one sentence: "The emperor knew that I was Qiu Liu who sued Han Wu's son, so he let me go."

Yongqing Bo was very disappointed: "Why do you emphasize this?"

"That's the truth. I just listened to my grandfather."

Earl Yongqing was choked.

It was really he who forced the Sixth Girl to sue Han Ziheng. He never thought that the Sixth Girl would have the opportunity to meet the Emperor.

Xue Han, the little brat, harmed him!

But I have to say that this girl is the most unexpected among so many granddaughters. Not only did she become the adopted daughter of Princess Kang, but she even got in front of the emperor. It is possible that the future of the Earl's Mansion will depend on this girl.

Thinking of this, Yongqing Bo smiled lovingly: "No matter what, it is a great blessing to see the emperor. You must seize the opportunity in the future."

"Granddaughter knows, grandpa can rest assured."

Earl Yongqing nodded with satisfaction.

I just like this girl's honesty.

When he thought of his eldest granddaughter who had been sitting on the bench in the deep palace for many years, Earl Yongqing became furious.

The idiot wasted all his efforts!
Qiu Heng returned to Lengxiangju, and Qiu Xuan and others came hand in hand.

The sisters didn't care about the emperor, and asked about Concubine Qiu's situation as soon as they arrived.

"How is the eldest sister? Is she fat or thin?"

"I heard that my eldest sister lives in Concubine Shu's Furong Palace. Sixth sister, have you met Concubine Shu? Does she seem easy to get along with?"

"Did Big Sister ask about us? Big Sister entered the palace early, and we were still young then..."

After hearing this, Qiu Heng said frankly: "My eldest sister is very thin and looks average. She doesn't look like she is doing well. When the Concubine Shu saw her, she was quite gentle, but I don't know what happened to her. My eldest sister didn't say much to me, and she didn't ask about her family..."

In the corner, Aunt Yu twitched her lips violently.

Sixth Miss, who taught you to talk like that?
Maybe she really shouldn't have taken up the position of governess, and it should have been Nanny Zhu who took over - for the first time, Nanny Yu began to waver because of her guilty conscience.

Qiu Heng's words silenced the sisters.

They still remembered the resistance of the eldest sister before entering the palace. But people couldn't help but think positively, thinking that after so many years, the eldest sister might have let go of her obsession and had a good life.

But Qiu Heng ruthlessly shattered their expectations.

After a while, Qiu Ying asked in a low voice: "What is the Imperial Concubine like? Is she really as stunningly beautiful as the rumors say?"

In her memory, her eldest sister was the most outstanding beauty. If she didn't get the emperor's favor, what would happen to Concubine Yu, who was the most favored concubine in the six palaces?
Qiu Heng thought about it and said realistically: "The Imperial Concubine is very beautiful, but her temperament is more special than her beauty."

It was obvious that Concubine Yu was able to gain the emperor's favor not just because of her appearance.

The sisters fell silent again.

Sure enough, beauty does not make people omnipotent.

Qiu Fu stood up and said, "I have a headache. I'm leaving now."

What an annoying girl, she says all kinds of nasty things to me. I will never come to this crappy place again.

Qiu Xuan and the other two also stood up: "We are going back too, Sixth Sister, take a rest."

"Would you like to bring some osmanthus cake? It's freshly made by Fangzhou." Qiu Heng asked with a smile.

It’s autumn now, and it’s the time to eat osmanthus cake.

Qiu Ying was overjoyed: "Thank you, Sixth Sister. I love sweet-scented osmanthus cake!"

Qiu Fu snorted coldly: "What don't you like to eat?"

"That's because Fangzhou's cooking is so delicious." Qiuying retorted in a low voice.

Qiu Fu rolled her eyes at her, feeling angry in her heart: Qiu Heng is relying on having a maid who can make snacks to win people's hearts!

Carrying the packaged osmanthus cake out of Lengxiangju, Qiu Ying saw Qiu Fu's sullen face and tried to ask, "Fourth sister, if you don't like it, why don't you give it to me?"

She can have a double portion!

"Eat, eat, eat. Aren't you afraid of being eaten like a piglet?" Qiu Fu rolled her eyes in anger.

Did she not like sweet-scented osmanthus cake? She was upset when she heard that her elder sister was not doing well.

After separating from her sisters, Qiu Fu went to live with the first wife, Zhao.

"Why is Fu'er here?"

Qiu Fu handed over the osmanthus cake: "Mother, please try it."

Zhao opened the oil paper package, picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and ate it, nodding her head: "It tastes great, which pastry shop did you buy it from?"

Zhao, who was in charge of the household, naturally knew that the kitchen in the mansion could not make such snacks.

"Fangzhou did it."

Zhao's smile faded slightly.

Like the old lady, she felt that the Sixth Girl was evil and instinctively didn't want her daughter to have much contact with her.

"Mother, I heard from my sixth sister that my eldest sister is not having a good time in the palace." Qiu Fu picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and took a bite.

The snacks were sweet and soft, but she felt heavy in her heart and wanted to say something to someone. And when people in this mansion talked about her eldest sister, she naturally thought of her mother.

"The palace is different from the outside. People are not allowed to show their emotions on their faces. What your sixth sister saw may not be true."

"Mother--"

Zhao said sullenly, "Fuer, you are not young anymore, you should think more about things. Your sixth sister said this is not good and that is not good, but whether it is going to the Prince Kang's Mansion or the palace, aren't you happy?" Qiu Fu looked at her mother disappointedly, "Mother heard that my eldest sister was not doing well, why didn't you ask more about her situation, but questioned my sixth sister's words first?"

"Fuer, are you blaming your mother for not caring about your elder sister?"

"Just like mother said, I'm not a child anymore and I can think for myself when encountering problems!" Qiu Fu stood up suddenly, turned around, walked two steps back, picked up the remaining osmanthus cake, turned around and ran away.

Zhao was so angry that she slammed the table and said, "This girl has really been spoiled to the point of lawlessness!"

The maid next to her looked at her nose and her heart, treating herself as a transparent person.

Qiu Fu's eyes were filled with tears as she walked to her boudoir.

She was not aggrieved, but terrified.

Her parents didn't love her eldest sister as much as she thought, and she would obviously not be an exception.

"What's wrong with Fourth Sister?" Qiu Xuan, who was on her way to the Second Wife's place, met Qiu Fu on the way and asked with concern.

"It's okay. I ate the osmanthus cake in a hurry and choked." Qiu Fu didn't want to show weakness in front of her sisters, so she forced back her tears.

"Then Fourth Sister, go back and drink some water and take a break."

"Yeah." Qiu Fu nodded and hurriedly walked past Qiu Xuan.

Qiuxuan came to Lan's room and also brought osmanthus cake.

"Mom, this is the sweet-scented osmanthus cake that my sixth sister sent me. Please try it."

Lan took a bite and praised it highly: "Fang Zhou beside the Sixth Miss is really a talent."

Even the maids around the Sixth Miss are not simple, no wonder her arrival has brought so many changes to the Bo Mansion.

"What's the matter, mother?"

Lan wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief and held Qiu Xuan's hand: "Mother wants to talk about your marriage."

Qiu Xuan's expression froze and she became nervous.

"Do you still remember your second aunt's in-law's nephew Song Rui?"

Qiu Xuan nodded, and the image of a handsome young man appeared in her mind.

They knew each other since childhood, but they grew up and haven't seen each other for two or three years.

Qiu Xuan vaguely knew the reason why they hadn't seen each other again. It was that her aunt had proposed to her on behalf of Song Rui, but ultimately failed to get through her grandfather.

She actually felt a little regretful in her heart, but she was always polite when interacting with Song Rui, and they never expressed anything to each other, so she didn't develop an obsession.

Could it be that - thinking of a certain possibility, Qiu Xuan's heart skipped a beat and her cheeks flushed.

Seeing her daughter's reaction, Lan's lips curled up.

It seems that Xuan'er is looking forward to this marriage, and all her planning is worth it.

"Mother didn't tell you in detail before, because she was afraid that you would feel bad if you knew. Song Rui and you have known each other since childhood, and you can be considered childhood sweethearts. The boy has a steady temperament, and he likes you in his heart, but he is afraid of being abrupt, so he privately asked your aunt to propose marriage..."

Qiu Xuan listened in a daze, her face turning even redder.

Song Rui...likes her?

"It's just..." Lan paused, a flash of mockery on her lips, "It's just that your grandfather disliked the Song family's low status, so he rejected it."

Qiu Xuan lowered her head and said nothing.

"Mother thought you were still young and could slowly find someone better. She never expected that you would almost end up in the den of tigers and wolves at Xiping Marquis' Mansion. Now that I think about it, knowing the family background is the most important thing. Although the Song family is not well-off, it is also a well-off farming and reading family with many talented people. Song Rui is still studying and may have a future. Even if he doesn't, he has a good character and good looks, and he has you in his heart. With your aunt's care, your life in your husband's family will not be bad."

The more Qiu Xuan listened, the redder her face became. She lowered her eyes and gently rubbed her handkerchief.

"Xuan'er, what do you think?"

"My daughter is decided by her mother." Qiu Xuan was happy, but she couldn't help but feel anxious. "My daughter had a fight with the Xiping Marquis's Mansion. Will the Song family still agree? Will my grandfather agree--"

Lan smiled and said, "Mother has asked your aunt to test the waters a long time ago. In the past two years, Song Rui has been using his studies as an excuse to not get married. In fact, he just can't let you go because you are still unmarried."

Qiu Xuan listened and her eyes became red.

If she had not experienced the disaster at Xiping Marquis' Mansion, she would not be so unrestrained, but now she is really scared.

Who knows what those gentle men who seem as gentle as jade are actually like? They may be true gentlemen, or they may be devils.

But she couldn't afford the gamble.

"Then...where is grandpa?" Qiu Xuan nervously clutched the handkerchief.

"This is a different time. Xuan'er, you stood up and pointed out the evil deeds of the fourth son of Xiping Marquis's Mansion, which indeed attracted a lot of criticism, and this criticism greatly reduced your evaluation in your grandfather's heart-"

"What do you mean, mother?"

Lan smiled happily: "Your grandfather thinks that your reputation is flawed, and it would be great if you can get married quickly."

Qiu Xuan covered her mouth, her voice trembling: "Grandfather agreed?"

"Yes." Lan raised her hand and touched her daughter's hair lovingly. "As the old saying goes, if you lose something in one place, you may gain something in another. My Xuan'er can be considered to have turned a disaster into a blessing."

Qiu Xuan couldn't hold back any longer and tears began to fall.

She was not only crying for having a satisfactory marriage, but also for herself who had risked everything in the bamboo forest of Ganquan Temple.

Fortunately, she did not retreat because of the so-called fame.

After leaving Lan's house, Qiu Xuan went straight to Lengxiangju.

"Did Second Sister forget something?" Qiu Heng asked when she saw Qiu Xuan coming back.

Qiu Xuan hugged Qiu Heng tightly.

Qiu Heng was stunned: "Second sister?"

"Sixth sister, it is my greatest luck that you can come back!" Qiu Xuan choked up and expressed her most sincere gratitude.

(End of this chapter)